PR118/15 28 December 2015

Middle Section of Metro Line 14 Opens to Serve Beijing Commuters

The 16.6-kilometre Middle Section of Beijing Metro Line 14, operated by Beijing MTR Corporation Limited (Beijing MTR), opened on 26 December 2015 to provide enhanced connectivity across the capital city’s metro system as well as additional capacity to ease growing passenger demand. Five of the nine stations, including Beijing South Railway Station, in the new section allow passengers to interchange with other major metro lines including Lines 1, 4, 5, 7 and 10.

Beijing MTR Corporation Limited (Beijing MTR) is a joint venture between MTR Corporation, Beijing Capital Group Limited and Beijing Infrastructure Investment Corporation Limited. The company also operates Beijing Metro and the Daxing Line.

“This is another major milestone for the Corporation’s growth in the Mainland after Beijing MTR signed a Concession Agreement on Beijing Metro with the Beijing Municipal Government last month,” said Mr Lincoln Leong, Chief Executive Officer of MTR Corporation. Over 500,000 passengers a day are expected to travel on trains running through the operational sections of Beijing Metro Line 14, providing more convenient, safe and high quality metro service.

“The new section will also help to relieve pressure on metro lines serving Beijing South Railway Station by providing additional capacity and giving passengers more options to travel to and from Beijing South Railway Station,” said Dr Jacob Kam, Operations Director of MTR Corporation.

“To ensure easy interchange, additional staff were deployed to the five interchange stations on the first day of operations to offer assistance to passengers,” said Richard Wong, General Manager of Beijing MTR.

The civil construction of Line 14, which started in 2010, is being undertaken by the Beijing Infrastructure Investment Corporation Limited. Under a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement, Beijing MTR is responsible for the electrical and mechanical systems as well as the rolling stock. This part takes up about 30% of the project’s capital cost and amounts to about RMB¥15 billion. As part of the Concession Agreement, Beijing MTR will operate the line for a term of 30 years.

When the remaining West Section is completed, Beijing Metro Line 14 will have a total of 37 stations stretching from Zhangguozhuang Station in the southern to Shangezhuang Station in the eastern Chaoyang District.

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About MTR Corporation

MTR Corporation is regarded as one of the world’s leading railway operators for safety, reliability, customer service and cost efficiency. In its home base of Hong Kong, the Corporation operates nine commuter railway lines, a Light Rail network and a high-speed Airport Express link on which more than 5.4 million passenger trips are made on a normal week day. Another 4.9 million passenger trips are made on the rail services it operates outside Hong Kong in the Mainland of China, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Australia. In addition, the Corporation is involved in a range of railway construction projects as well as railway consultancy and contracting services around the world. Leveraging on its railway expertise, the Corporation is involved in the development of transit-related residential and commercial property projects, property management, shopping malls leasing and management, advertising media and telecommunication services.

For more information about MTR Corporation, please visit www..com.hk. For more information about Beijing MTR Corporation Limited, please visit http://www.mtr.bj.cn/.

Photo Captions:

1. Passengers interchange at Beijing South Railway Station in the newly opened Middle Section of Beijing Metro Line 14.

2. Alignment of Beijing Metro Line 14